London borough mayoral candidates to be grilled on motorcycle parking charges

A hustings will be hosted next month where mayoral candidates in Hackney will be asked questions relating to motorcycling.

The hustings will be organised by Save London Motorcycling (SLMC) and the National Motorcyclists’ Council (NMC), and will take place at 6pm on 2 November via a Zoom meeting.

SLMC says that the hustings will aim to cover issues relating to riders of motorcycles and scooters in general, and will seek answer from the candidates on how they intend to support powered two-wheeler riders in the borough should they be elected.

One of the most prominent issues in Hackney is the controversial motorcycle parking charges that were supported by Labour councillors but which also found opposition from Green and Conservative councillors.

Mayoral candidates have been asked to sign an open letter to Hackney Council opposing the motorcycle parking charges that it says could cost commuters up to £2,000 per year. So far, the letter has been signed by the Green candidate, Cllr Zoë Garbett; the Conservative candidate, Simche Steinberger; the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate, Annoesjka Valent; and Peter Smorthit, and Independent candidate.

On the subject of SLMC’s call for condemnation of the parking charges, Cllr Zoë Garbett said: “Hackney Greens have been very critical of the administration's approach to Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) parking charges. The scheme totally fails to take into account the surge in larger cars that are becoming more prevalent on our streets, a phenomenon known as auto-obesity. It fails to help encourage people along the hierarchy of transport modes, out of cars and onto more environmentally friendly modes. 

“The charges appear to be wildly disproportionate to other boroughs in London, creating a hostile environment for PTW riders, many of whom make up an essential part of our local economy.”

A spokesperson from SLMC added: “SLMC spokesperson Rachel said: “Hackney residents and workers look forward to putting questions to candidates from across the political spectrum who will be taking part in the hustings on 2 November. But the show of unaccountability from Cllr Woodley is outrageous and betrays a contempt for Hackney’s voters. Instead of isolating herself and her party like this, she should instead  back the residents’ call for a fair deal for motorcyclists, and she should turn up to face voters on the 2nd of November”.

“The fact that we have got cross-party support against these charges just shows how ridiculous they are. The Labour candidate needs to recognise that this is a real issue that will affect their constituents and how people vote in the election.”

The open letter addressed to Hackney Council can be read below.

“We are appealing to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, Cllr Mete Coban, and all Hackney Council Cabinet members, to reverse the unfair, irrational and baseless policy decision to charge some of the lowest paid workers, carers and vulnerable residents thousands of pounds a year to travel in Hackney on powered two wheelers, a low impact, affordable and sustainable transport mode. Hackney Councillors’ decision, will devastate thousands of lives at the height of the worst cost of living crisis in living memory and cause untold social and environmental harm.

"Hackney Council’s proposals would see motorcycle parking permits charged the same prices as cars, with for example a tiny electric moped charged the same as a huge electric car. They would see residents of car-free developments effectively banned from owning a motorcycle, retrospectively moving the goalposts and the basis on which they bought or rented their home. The Council told riders they wanted to bring Hackney into line with other London Boroughs, but instead plan to charge motorcycle commuters over £2000 a year, more than four times the total of all other Boroughs’ charges added together.

"The charges have been opposed by a petition of over 8,000 signatories, by the GMB and Delivery Workers Unions, and by both opposition parties on Hackney Council. Council consultations on the charges have shown 4 in 5 people reject the plans, across all ethnic groups and age categories.

"Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) are a transport mode chosen by those on lower than average incomes. They are a vital and affordable transport solution for residents and workers with disabilities or heavy loads, unable to cycle or use public transport. Many female riders choose a PTW to feel safer than on public transport. A disproportionate number of riders are from BAME backgrounds, and work in the gig economy. Many of those gig economy workers cannot afford to live near their place of work, and travel long distances for courier and delivery work.

"Unlike cars, PTWs do not contribute to congestion, and take little if any parking space away from other road users. Despite this, Hackney Council plans a 70% reduction in PTWs on the roads they administer, whilst only targeting a 30% reduction for other vehicles.

"Hackney Council’s policy has been drawn up based on flawed information and a complete lack of understanding of the needs and contribution of PTW riders. Hackney Cabinet members have accepted that the evidence on which this harmful policy was based is wrong, but have refused to consider genuine evidence despite having many opportunities to do so.

"We urge Councillors to go back to the drawing board and develop plans which work for the residents, workers and carers of Hackney, and don’t push thousands into transport poverty at the height of the cost of living crisis.”

Cllr Garbett’s full statement is below.

“Hackney Greens have been very critical of the administration's approach to Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) parking charges. The scheme totally fails to take into account the surge in larger cars that are becoming more prevalent on our streets, a phenomenon known as auto-obesity. It fails to help encourage people along the hierarchy of transport modes, out of cars and onto more environmentally friendly modes. The charges appear to be wildly disproportionate to other boroughs in London, creating a hostile environment for PTW riders, many of whom make up an essential part of our local economy.

Lots of my work as a local councillor in Dalston has been supporting the gig-economy workers and delivery riders who have been unfairly targeted by the police and council enforcement teams. These key workers were lauded during the pandemic for keeping the economy alive, and have since not received the recognition or support they deserve and it is telling that the unions GMB and IWGB have come out against these charges.

Hackney Greens would like the council to go back to the drawing board as these plans clearly did not take all of the most up-to-date evidence into consideration, nor think through some of the unintended consequences of the changes, including the banning of PTWs, including electric motorbikes, from what were previously just Car-Free developments. I applaud Save London Motorcycling for their work in correcting and clarifying the evidence that the council presented as well as for giving a voice to many who have felt they're not being listened to.

We called for the Labour cabinet to review the evidence when it first came to light at full council, and then when the decision was made by the cabinet, we worked cross-party to call in the decision to provide an extra opportunity to scrutinise the plans.

While Labour and the Tories choose to make transport into another politically motivated culture-war, Greens lead the way in championing evidence-led interventions, by listening to and working with the community to find sustainable approaches to our transport and environmental challenges."